A vintage Soviet (USSR) 875-silver bracelet featuring black Niello work with engraved floral motifs. The bracelet’s history is rooted in the long-standing tradition of Russian and Soviet silversmithing, combining the Niello technique with Eastern Bloc metal standards. Niello is a black alloy composed of sulfur, copper, silver, and lead. The artisan engraves designs onto the silver, fills the grooves with Niello powder, and heats the piece until the black mixture melts and sets within them. This technique reached Russia from the Byzantine Empire as early as the 10th century.